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SOIL MANAGEMENT

In 2011-12:

NATIONAL AND STATE/TERRITORY

In Australia, approximately 22,000 agricultural businesses (or 16% of all agricultural businesses) reported using some type of soil enhancer on their agricultural land, covering an area of 3.7 million hectares.

The most common type of soil enhancer used was lime and/or dolomite, with around 59% of agricultural businesses using soil enhancer applying those types. This was followed by gypsum and compost, with 28% and 15% of agricultural businesses using soil enhancers applying those types respectively.

Lime and/or dolomite were applied to 1.7 million hectares of agricultural land, which was 47% of the total area to which soil enhancers were applied. Around 987,000 hectares of this was in Western Australia, representing approximately 57% of the area to which lime and/or dolomite were applied. Victoria accounted for around 289,000 hectares and New South Wales 272,000 hectares, each representing 17% and 16% of the total area to which those types of soil enhancer were applied.

Gypsum application was reported in all states of Australia. In Victoria gypsum was applied to 296,000 hectares, followed by 294,000 hectares in New South Wales.

The use of biochar as a soil enhancer was not reported as a common activity, with application to only 10,100 hectares across Australia, accounting for less than 1% of the total area of soil enhancer use.

Footnote(s): (a) Includes ACT. (b) Zero values may represent data that is not available for publication due to confidentiality restrictions.

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